Column Load Calculation | Slab Load Calculation | Beam Load Calculation

There are various types of loads on a column:

• Column’s Self Weight * No. of Floors
• Beam’s Self Weight per running meter
• Wall Load per running meter

Therefore, Total Load of Slab= Dead Load + Live Load + Self Weight

The final design needs a consideration of the bending movements that columns are subjected to. The advanced structural design software like ETABS or STAAD Pro are the tools much ahead of manual methodology for designing a good structure. These are also highly recommended. Professional practice needs some assumptions for structural loading calculation.

Load Calculation (For Columns):

Self-Weight of Concrete- 2400kg per cubic meter, equivalent to 240kN

Self-Weight of Steel- 8000kg per cubic meter

Assuming a large column size of 230mm * 600mm with 1% steel and 3m standard height, the self-weight of the column will be around 1000kg per floor, equivalent to 10kN. 

Assuming as per the calculation, the Self-Weight of the column be between 10-15kN per floor.

Load Calculation (For Beams):

Assuming the dimensions, excluding the slab thickness of each meter of beam to be 230mm * 450mm, Self-Weight can be around 2.5kN per running meter.

Load Calculation (For Walls):

Brick density varies  between 1500 to 2000kg per cubic meter. For a wall with thickness of 6”, height of 3m and length of 1m, load of running meter can be calculated, which will be equal to 0.150 * 1 * 3 * 2000 = 900kg or 9kN/m.

Load per running meter of any brick type can be calculated using this technique.

For autoclaved/aerated concrete blocks  like Aerocon, Siporex , weight per cubic meter varies between 550 to 700kg per meter cube. Using these blocks for construction, wall load per running meter can be lesser to 4kN/m reducing the construction cost.

Load Calculation (For Slabs):

Assuming the Slab thickness to be 125mm,

Each meter square of slab is supposed to have a self-weight of – 0.125 * 1 * 2400=300kg or 3kN.

Assuming finishing load as 1kN/m and superimposed live load as 2kN/m the slab load can be calculated which is supposed to be around 6 to 7kN/meter square.

Factor of Safety:

After the entire calculation process of load on a column, it needs to be added in the factor of safety. For IS 456:2000, the Factor of Safety is 1.5.